Means for suspension of window sashes



July 29, 1958 M. F. LOGAN MEANS FOR SUSPENSION OF WINDOW SASHES FiledNov 26, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JJ7NVEN TOR.

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Juiy 29, 1958 I M. F. Lb'GAN MEANS FOR SUSPENSION 0F WINDOW SASHES FiledNov. 26; 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

m l m 7 4 u Q. u w. ii v a m 5 W w. m mm 4 M M f/MAURICE 1-? L064!!! BYUnited States Patent MEANS FOR SUSPENSION 0F WINDOW SASHES Maurice F.Logan, Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.

Application November 26, 1954, Serial No. 471,429

Claims. (Cl. 16197) The object of my improvement is to provide a devicewhereby a sash in a window may be moved vertically easily and smoothly,without the need of employing weights suspended on cords to balance it.While the above cord and weight combination is in common use, it is wellknown that it is not entirely satisfactory and that the repairs orreplacement of its component parts present considerable difii'culty,mainly because said parts are not easily accessible. It is partlybecause of the deficiencies of said combination that I have developedthe means to be described herein.

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby a sash may beraised or lowered, as the case may be, with a minimum of manual effort,but which means will hold the sash in any desired position.

A further object of the invention is to provide means having the aboveadvantages and yet such as will be mechanically simple in constructionand fully reliable in operation.

More specifically, the improvement calls for the employment of aflexible basket-weave sleeve in combination with a vertical rod, one ofsaid elements being in a stationary position, while the other element isconnected to the sash itself.

I shall now describe my improvement with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a window frame, theview including a part of a window sash and my device for suspensionthereof;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device as installed in one sideof a window sash, the device being shown at one stage of its operationaluse;

Figs. 3 and 4 show the same device in different stages of its operativeuse;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a bracket for support of anelement of said device;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of a modified species of my device asinstalled in a sash, and a window frame containing the sash;

Fig. 8 is a plan elevational view of one end of a rod forming a part ofmy device.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In describing my device, I will refer to one sash generally identifiedby numeral 10, while the window frame will be identified by numeral 11and another sash in said window frame will be identified by numeral 12.

Secured to the upper cross-member or rail 13 of the window frame, bymeans of a bracket 14, is a rod 15 which extends downwardly into avertical groove 16 in a stile 17 of said sash 10. The rod is to be made,preferably, out of rust-proof metal, but may be made of any othersuitable material.

As for the bracket, it includes a vertical plate 18 which is providedwith a number of holes 19 for application of screws and a horizontalplate or shelf 20. The latter is provided with a depressed seat 21having therein a slot 2,344,843 Patented July 29, 1958 ice 22 foradmission of the upper portion of the rod 15. The rod, which terminatesat the upper end with a radiallyexpanded head 23, is of such diameterthat it may be thrust laterally into the seat through said slot 22 inorder that the head of the rod may fit into said seat to hold the rod inplace.

Partly for the purpose of alining the rod 15 within the groove 16, andpartly for another purpose to which I shall presently refer, I employtwo eye screws, 24 and 24a, the eye portion of the screws being alinedvertically.

At the lower end, the rod is flattened out as indicated at 25 and isprovided with a transverse hole, as shown in Fig. 8, for reception of apin 26 by means of which the rod is secured to the side member of thewindow frame 11, or, more specifically, to the member which includes arunway for the stile 10. In order to keep the rod in a spaced relationto said side member, a cylindrical spacer 27 is used for the purpose.

The flexible sleeve 30 is made of a woven metal wire, plastic fibers, orany other suitable material. At its lower end the sleeve is providedwith a rigid collar 32a which may be soldered or otherwise permanentlysecured to said sleeve in an axial relation thereto. Disposed upon therim of the collar is a washer 31. If necessary, a plurality of suchwashers may be used.

At the opposite or the upper end, the rim 32 of the sleeve is stiffenedby any suitable means, such as coating the wire strands with an alloy ora'plastic. The object of the stiifening is to prevent fraying and toprovide means against which the cap 35 may be employed for the purposeof compressing the sleeve longitudinally.

As used in combination with the rod 15, the sleeve is located within thegroove 16 in the spacing between the two eye screws 24 and 24a, and fitsabout that portion of the rod which at a given phase of the operativeuse of my device extends between said eye screws.

Loosely coiled about the sleeve 30 is a spring 33which at its lower endbears against washer 31 on said collar 32a, while the upper end of-saidspring extends above the upper end of the sleeve and fits into acylindrical cap 35 just under the upper eye screw 24, the cap having inits upper wall an axial aperture 36 for a sliding axial engagement withsaid rod 15.

Preliminary to the description of the device, I wish to point out thefact that the sleeve will slide smoothly and easily over the rod whenmeans are used to compress the sleeve longitudinally so that the lengththereof will be reduced, but that the sleeve will frictionally grip therod when means are used which will elongate said sleeve.

I will now disclose the practical application of the principle withreference to the drawings in which Fig. 2 discloses my device in itsnormal, sash-holding position. For the purpose of this disclosure, itwill be assumed that sash 10 is in the upper portion of the window frame11. As shown in Fig. 2, the weight of the sash causes the upper eyescrew to bear against the top of cap 35 mounted upon the upper portionof the coiled spring 33, and, through said spring, against the collar32a. As a result, the sleeve is extended longitudinally, its diameter isreduced, and the sleeve grips the rod, preventing the movement of thesash downwardly.

It will be now assumed that the sash is to be moved downwardly byapplication of manual force to the upper end of the sash. As a result ofthe application of said manual force, an initial movement of .the sashwill take place against the tension of the spring 33 without any changein the position of the sleeve. If anything, the downward pressure on thespring, and, through the spring, on the collar 3211, will only cause thesleeve to grip tighter the rod 15. This will continue till the top wallof the cap 35 will come in contact with the stiff upper end 32 of thesleeve, as shown in Fig. 3, when, by the movement of the cap downwardly,the sleeve will be compressed and, thus, expanded radially to releaseits grip upon the rod. This efiected, the sleeve will move smoothlydownwardly with the sash.

On release of the manual pressure downwardly upon the sash, the springwill expand upwardly to its original position, as shown in Fig. 2, butthe weight of the sash bearing upon the collar, by means of the spring,will tend to elongate the sleeve in the manner already described priorto the description of the downward movement of said sash.

Should now manual force be applied to the sash in order to move the sashupwardly, the lower eye screw 24a will push from below against thecollar 31, as shown in Fig. 4, bringing about a longitudinal compressionof the sleeve and a diametrical expansion thereof, with the result thatthe grip of the sleeve upon the rod will be released so that the sashwill move upwardly smoothly and easily to any desired position.

The washers 31 are suggested for use to secure best operative results byshortening, in eflect, the length of the sleeve, as any washersinterposed between the collar and the spring 33 will have that eflect.

A modified structure of my device, which includes the same flexiblesleeve, is shown in Fig. 8. In this case the sash 40, including twostiles 43, contains a vertical groove 42 in each stile, and disposedvertically within each groove is a vertical rod 41, the rod beingsecured at each end to said sash.

I am using for this purpose, at each end of the respective stile, ashallow metal cup 46 seated in a shallow socket 47, each cup having anaxial aperture for the reception of the respective end of the rod. Asshown in the drawings, one end of the rod includes adiametricallyexpanded head 48 fitting into one socket, while the otherend, passing into the cup at the opposite end of the stile, is securedin its place by means of a nut 49.

Concealed in a pocket 50 in the window frame, and facing the groove 42,is a bracket 52 made of spring-like wire, the bracket being secured inplace by means of a clamping plate 53 and retaining screws 54. One arm55' of the bracket extends horizontally from the pocket and terminateswith acylindrical guiding member 56 embracing said rod 41. The upperportion of the bracket includes a loop 57 and another arm 58 extendingfrom the loop and integrally connected therewith and terminating with acollar 59 loos'ely embracing said rod. Be

pending from the collar and embracing the rod is the flexible wovensleeve 60, the lower end of which has a rim 61 stiffened by means ofsolder or some other substance in a manner analogous to the upper end 32in the sleeve 30 described above.

The manner in which the device operates is as follows:

As the rod 41 is disposed axially in the sleeve 60, the weight of thesash will extend the sleeve till it will grip the rod, preventingdownward movement of the sash to which the rod is connected for movementtherewith. Should it be desired to lower the sash, manual pressure uponthe sash from the top will cause a downward deflection of the upper armof bracket 52, causing rim 61 to contact cylindrical guide member 56,which results in longitudinal compression of the sleeve. As this willbring about the diametrical expansion of the sleeve, the grip of thesleeve upon the rod 41 will be released, permitting smooth movement ofthe sash in said downward direction.

On the reverse movement of the sash, the upward movement of the rodwill, by itself, cause longitudinal compression of the sleeve againstthe collar 59 so that again the sash will be adapted to move smoothlytowards the upper end of the window frame.

It will, be understood that some other modifications of the device forthe purpose described herein may be des igned without departing from theinventive principle disclosed herein.

What I, therefore, wish to claim is as follows: 1. Means for supportinga first element, a vertically slidable window sash in various positionsof adjustment in a second element, a window frame and wherein said firstelement has a side stile provided with a vertical groove; comprising aflexible basket-weave sleeve and a vertical rod axially passing throughsaid sleeve, one of the elements being stationary, spring meansassociated with the sleeve to extend it longitudinally to cause saidsleeve to grip the rod, and means responsive to the movement of thefirst element, under manual force, to compress the sleeve longitudinallyto cause its radial expansion to release its grip upon the rod.

2. Means for supporting a first element, a vertically slidable windowsash in various positions of adjustment in a second element, a windowframe and wherein said first element has a side stile provided with avertical groove; comprising a pair of eyelets fixed to the first elementwithin said groove in an alined and verticallyspaced relation to eachother, a flexible, basket-weave sleeve disposed within said groovebetween said eyelets, the sleeve including at its lower end a rigidcollar, while the upper end of the sleeve includes a rim portion in astiffened condition, a cap upon the upper end of the sleeve, the capbeing provided with an axial aperture, a spring coiled about the sleeve,the upper end of the spring extending normally to a level above theupper end of the sleeve and fitting into said cap, while the lower endof the spring bears against said collar and serves to keep the sleeve inan elongated, rod-gripping position, and a stationary vertical rodaffixed at one end to supporting means outside the first element, therod passing through said eyelets and axially through said cap andthrough said sleeve.

3. Means for supporting a first element, a vertically slidable windowsash in various positions of adjustment in a second element, a windowframe and wherein said first element has a side stile provided with avertical groove; comprising a pair of eyelets fixed to the first elementwithin said groove and being vertically-alined and spaced relation toeach other, a stationary vertical rod aflixed to means outside the firstelement, but passing through said eyelets,.a flexible, basket-weavesleeve fitting about the rod in the space between said eyelets, thesleeve including, at its lower end, a rigid collar having a radialflange and loosely fitting about the rod, the sleeve having a stiffenedrim at its upper end, a spring coiled about the sleeve, the lower end ofthe spring bearing against said flange, while-the upper end of thespring extends above the upper end of the sleeve, and anaxially-apertured cap slidingly seated upon said rod, the cap fittingupon the upper end of the spring and hearing from below against theupper eyelet of the two vertically-spaced eyelets.

4. Means for supporting a first element, a vertically slidable windowsash in various positions of adjustment in a second element, a windowframe and wherein said first element has a side stile provided with avertical groove and the second element has a recess opening toward thegroove in the first element; comprising a bracket in the recess in thesecond element, the bracket including a horizontal arm extending intothe groove in the first element and terminating with a cylindricalguiding member and a spring-like arm in a vertically-spaced relation tothe first-named arm, the arm extending into the groove in the firstelement and terminating with a substantially-horizontally-disposedcollar, a vertical rod at its ends aflixed to the sash and disposedwithin said groove in the first element, the rod passing through saidcollar and through said guiding member for a sliding movementtherethrough, a flexible, basket-weave sleeve fitting about said rodwithin the space between the guiding member and the collar, the upperportion of the sleeve being connected to said collar and extendingdownwardly therefrom, while the lower end of the sleeve is normallyspaced from said guiding member, the rod being at said lower portion ofthe sleeve in a frictional contact therewith and tending to elongatesaid sleeve, the bracket arm, provided with the collar, being adapted tobe flexed downwardly on the initial downward movement of the firstelement and to compress the sleeve longitudinally to release said gripupon the rod.

5. Means for supporting a first element, a vertically slidable windowsash in various positions of adjustment in a second element, a windowframe and wherein said first element has a side stile provided with avertical groove; comprising a pair of eyelets fixed to the first elementwithin said groove, a flexible, basket-weave sleeve disposed within thefirst element in the groove thereofand a vertical rod axially passingthrough said sleeve, one of the elements being stationary, while theother is in a movable relation thereto, the sleeve being provided at oneend with a collar freely sliding upon said rod References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 950,850 Herrmann Mar. 1, 19102,335,816 Tappan Nov. 30, 1943 2,365,156 Viehweger Dec. 19, 19442,370,867 Luce Mar. 6, 1945 2,603,827 Brown July 22, 1952 2,622,267Peremi Dec. 23, 1952 2,678,477 Russell May 18, 1954

